The Betrayal That Broke Me

that grated on my nerves. My mother' s breathing was shallow, a faint rasp in the suffocati

ic rise and fall of her chest, prayi

d in my pocket

gain. A relentless vib

of me, I pulled it out. The screen was lit up with notificat

n my feed made m

ut car in a junkyard. She wore a slip of a dress, so thin it was nearly transparent under the harsh camera flash.

Sarah, isn't afraid to go there. Sneak peek from our 'Urban

the contest. Sarah had been talking about it for weeks, about how it was a "career-d

as just work. I tr

cation popped up at the top o

ened

Sarah, her eyes closed, her lipstick smeared at the corner of her mouth. J

hoto, a singl

Don't worry, I'm taki

holding my mother's tightened, and she stirred, a soft moan escapi

lked out into the hallway. I had to

dialed h

e picked up, her voice

We're in the middle

he's... she's not doing well. The doctor said it

voice in the background, shouting direct

harp with impatience. "This is Jake's big break. E

" I whispered, disbelief chok

ld her hand? It's not like she ever liked me anyway. I'll

ne wen

cruel words. I leaned against the cold wall of the hospital corrido

sympathetic look. "Sir, the d

y mother's bed, his face grim. The gentle, rhythmic beep of the

ans," the doctor said

oice, the distant hospital sounds-it all faded into noth

uzzed one

e screen. A notific

nd Jake.Create

led with their faces. They were in a car, music blasting. Sarah was h

eamed over the music

r, a long, deep kiss, right th

my wife celebrated with her lover while my

alls. I filled out the paperwork. I picked out a

text: "So sorry for your loss.

heir condolences and left, I went back to the house we

d out a single document. A peti

s photo album. Then I walked out the door, leavin

't loo